Key pad for wind musical instruments



Feb. 11, 1930. E. .1. GULlcK KEY PAD FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July l1. 1927 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. GULICK, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO C. G. CONN, LTD., OF ELK- I-IART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA KEY PAD FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application led July 11,

My invention relates to improvements in wind musical instruments of the saxophone class, and the like, and especially to key pads therefor. v

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved key pad for saxophones, and the like, the body whereof is made of non-metallic resilient material to facilitate the automatic adaptation of the pad to any angularity or irregularity of the key-pad seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key-pad for saxophones, and the like, the body whereof is made of non-metallic resilient material, preferably soft rubber, to enable the ready attachment and detachment of the pad in relation to the pad-cup or carrier.

Other objects of the invention are mentioned and described herein.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a saxophone body fragment and including the key-pad and its seat, to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembled key-pad; Fig. 3 is a fragmental view in section illustrating a modification; and Fig. 4 illustrates two views of the reenforcing disk.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a fragment of a tubular saxophone body which is provided with the usual lateral tone opening 2, the latter being encompassed by the usual annular upstanding key-pad seat 3 which is adapted to receive the key-pad 4; thereon to seal the tone opening.

The key-pad 4f is universally mounted within the pad-cup or carrier 5, as hereinafter described, and the latter is rigidly mounted upon a key arm 6 which may be tiltably supported at 7 on the post 20. As illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 4 the invention may comprise the pad mount stud 8 rigidly secured within the cup 5 centrally thereof, the annular soft rubber pad body 9 within which 1927'. Serial No. 204,695.

the annular reenforcing disk 10 is embedded, and the kid leather pad cover 11 secured thereabout in any suitable manner.

The stud 8 is provided with a head 12 to provide a button-like element which is adapted to engage in the central aperture 13 of the soft rubber pad 9 and which is open at the top side thereof to enable such connection, in which relation the stud head 12 is disposed within the chamber or recess 14 which is open to the under side of the pad. The pad body is reenforced by the annular metal disk 10 which is embedded therein by molding process and which is provided with the central aperture 15 to permit the passage of the stud mount 8, said disk being preferably provided also with the plurality of relatively small apertures 16 through which the plastic rubber of the pad body may pass to unify the mass about said disk.

The upper or top face 17 of the pad body may be slightly coniform in Cross-section to effect a central boss or projection thereon adjacent to and about the stud aperture 13, whereby the outer periphery or edge of the pad unit is spaced from the pad cup at all points, thereby enabling a universal or rocking movement of the pad on the stud 8. The pad cover 11 may be made of kid leather or other suitablel material adhesively or otherwise secured thereto.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3 the yieldable felt disk 18 is interposed between the pad body 9 and the cover 11 to impart extra yieldance to the pad unit.

My improved key-pad not only possesses the merit of universal rocking movement, whereby it automatically adapts itself to any irregularity or angularity of the pad seat 3, but also it has the additional advantage of being readily removable and atta-chable manually, without tools and without the use of screws or other fastener members.

I claim:

1. In a wind musical instrument, a keypad comprising a soft rubber body element provided with a reenforcing disk embedded therein, said disk being provided with a central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures arranged about said central aperture,

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the rubber on opposite sides of said disk being united together through said apertures.

2. In a wind musical instrument, a keypad comprising a soft rubber body element provided with a metal reeniorcing disk embedded therein, said disk being provided with a central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures arranged about said central aperture, the rubber on opposite sides of said disk being united together through said smaller apertures.

3. In a wind musical instrument, a keypad comprising a soi't rubber body element provided with a metal reenforcing disk embedded therein, said disk being provided with a central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures arranged about said central aperture, the rubber on opposite sides oi' said disk being united together through said disk apertures, and said rubber body element being provided with a central fastener aperture.

4. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, oit a tiltable key-arm, a padcup thereon, a headed stud projecting centrally from said pad-cup, and a pad body provided with a centra-l aperture adapted to be engaged by said stud to secure the pad Ybody to said cup, said pad body aperture having walls formed ofsoft rubber to provide an eXpansible socket for said stud when the latter is in engagement therewith.

5. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, of a tiltable key-arm, a pad-cupthereon, a headed stud projecting` centrally from said pad-cup, and an interiorly reenforced soft rubber pad body provided 1- with a central aperture adapted to-be engaged by said stud to secure the pad body to said cup, said pad body aperture having walls formed of sott rubber to provide an expansible socket for said stud when the latter is in engagement therewith. Y

G. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, of atiltable key-arm, a pad-cup'thereon, a headed stud projecting centrally from said pad-cup, and an interiorly reeniorced soft rubber pad body provided with a. central aperture adaptedV to be engaged by said stud to secure the pad body to said pad-cup, said pad body central aper- Jforcement comprising a metal disk provided with a plurality of apertures through which the rubber of the pad body is united.

7.V In a wind musical instrument, a key-pad comprising a sott rubber body element coniform' in cross-section, said body element having'a metal disk embedded therein, said disk being provided with a central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures arranged about said central aperture, the rubber on opposite sides of said disk beingunited together through said smaller disk apertures.

S. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, of a tiltable key-arm, a pad-cup thereon, a headed stud projecting centrally from said pad-cup, a soft rubber pad body provided with a central aperture adapted to be engaged by said stud to removably secure the pad body to said pad-cup, reen't'orcement meansfor said pad body, said reentorcement means comprisinga metal disk embedded in the pad body and provided with aplurality of apertures through which the rubber of the pad body is united together, and a ki d leather cover for said pad body.

9. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, of a tiltable key arm, a pad-cup thereon, a headed stud projecting centrally from said pad-cup, and a soft rubber pad body provided with a centrally arranged resilient socket adapted to be engaged by said headed stud to secure the pad body to said pad-cup, a portion of said pad body socket being smaller than the head of said stud.

vl0. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument body, of al tiltable key-arm, a padcup thereon, a headed stud projecting centrally from said pad-cup, and a pad body provided with a central aperture adapted to be engaged by said stud to secure the pad body to said cup, said pad body aperture having walls formed of non-,metallic resilient material to provide an expansible socket for` said stud when the latter is in engagement therewith.

In witness whereof I have afliXed my signature this 7th day of July, 1927.

EDVVARD J. GULICK.

fture providing an eXpansible socket for saidV headed stud when the latter 1s 1n engagement therewith, and said pad body interior reen- 

